Faisal Abbas nurtured Ekhabinskya (Placerville - Moving Image), who started her summer campaign with a runaway victory in Class V, continued to scale new heights and ended the season on a winning note in Class II. Faisasl’s decision to opt for the use of a hood on Ekhabinskya after losing in her second appearance proved to be a master stroke as it brought a total transformation in the bay filly’s temperament and she lost only once to Il Divo since.

Ekhabinskya signed off her campaign by the winning the K. M. Munshi Trophy in great style from Successor, a no mean customer. As is her wont, Ekhabinskya went streaking into the lead and not only made the C. D. Katrak trainee dance to her tunes but also toyed with him till the winning post arrived.

In a final surge Ekhabinskya eluded Successor’s grip and won comfortably in the end. Chimerique is gradually coming into her own though she warmed up late to finish fourth behind Elementto Angel. Faisal had earlier led in Statjford (Senure - Tudor Queen), another well-bred filly, who registered her first success of her career in the hands of Neeraj Rawal.

Trainer Shiraz Sunderji too saddled a brace of winners, Highland Vision (Alnasr Alwasheek -“ Prenom Carmen) and River Star (Warrshan - Precieux Act), who both graduated from the maiden ranks. Highland Vision was spurred by apprentice S. Zervan in the straight and the filly devoured ample ground to wear down leader Real Dream and favourite Cloud Cover, who refused to budge in the closing stages of the race and eventually ended third behind the former. Royal Hunter ran prominently till the final furlong and retired to be fourth.

River Star with Danny Grant came with a flourish from behind to outwit Tudor Regent in the home stretch and drew away for an emphatic win over Creme De La Creme, who came through the shortest way home. Black Falcon loitered behind the front runners and ended in the rut.

Buster (Alnasr Alwasheek - Premier Collection) from M. K. Jadhav’s yard provided Danny his last winner of this season, which saw a foreign rider achieve the coveted leading jockey’s title in Western India for the first time. Buster was ridden well off the pace as Rage of Angels and Rising Hero led the field but only till they entered the home stretch. Buster and Thanda then made their moves almost at the same time and fought an interesting duel in which Danny’s powerful finish tilted the scales in favour of the on-money favourite.

Pesi Shroff trained and Neeraj Rawal ridden Snowden (Placerville - Snow Dew) shouldered the penalty incurred for his last success to register an encore with consummate ease. Initially Here Comes The Don and later Rubidium headed the nine horse field with Snowden beautifully settled in a striking position behind them. Neeraj played the waiting game till just about a furlong for the wire and then gave Snowden his head. The bay gelding bounded forth and scored a fluent win over Pine Crest and Caramel. Daffodils and Rubidium ended a poor fourth and fifth but they are capable of giving a better show at Pune once they recoup during the summer break.

Notable Runner (Case Law - Noble Ballerina) caused a major upset to lift the Trainers Trophy and also provided rookie Shammi Khan his first career winner. Shammi held back Notable Runner as Destined Prince decided to call the shots but Magansingh Jodha’s ward pounced on the leader at the bend and kept going till the end. King’s Troop should some zest for racing and rallied on to finish runner-up ahead of Gatravat, who was a disappointment after his win a day before, and Born Destiny. Asclepieion, who was running in the charge of Hormuz Antia for this first time, received sustained support in the betting but the bay gelding played truant once again and ran pathetically to end third last.

Moonstorm avenged the defeat of Thanda at the hands of Buster. The bay filly Moonstorm (Black Cash - Millywakay) from Vinayak’s yard was ridden forcefully by S. Zervan to nail down Malesh Narredu piloted Forbes List, who was being hailed as a winner close home. Generalissimo also put his nose ahead of Forbes List to usurp the second spot. Clarion Call disappointed a lot and faded out after leading the field till the turn.

Landlord (Mischievous Music - Uranium), who was bought back by trainer Damodaran Pillai in the auction held last week, struck immediately on return to the race-track in the concluding race of the day. Jockey R. Rupesh made his move as the field straightened for home and Landlord unleashed a powerful run that left his rivals in the cold. Surmount ended third ahead of the late-finishing Red Cloud.